US Republican presidential candidate John McCain offered very contrary views to those of his Democratic rivals when answering a questionnaire this week regarding how he, if elected president, would work for peace between Israel and the Arabs.

While Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama offered unsurprising responses about putting the full weight of US diplomacy behind reaching an agreement that creates a Palestinian state with all haste, McCain indicated that he didn't believe peace would be possible in the near future.

McCain responded to the Middle East policy survey sent out by the Los Angeles-based Simon Weisenthal Center by noting that "recent history unfortunately demonstrates the Palestinians are not now able to make the compromises necessary for a lasting peace"

And if he can't help the sides reach a real and lasting peace, then McCain suggested he prefers to take a more hands-off approach to peacemaking, while assisting Israel in isolating its enemies and minimizing the conflict's violent surges.